Clothing found with the body of a toddler on April 21, 2017

The Edmonton Police Service has released several photos to the public in the hopes of identifying a child who was found dead outside of a church in the northeast area of the city. The side of a toddler's shoe is seen in this April 21, 2017, police handout image. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Edmonton Police Service

The Edmonton Police Service is looking to the public for assistance in identifying a deceased toddler who was located this afternoon (April 21, 2017) near 155 Avenue and Castle Downs Road in Edmonton.

The Edmonton Police Service is looking to the public for assistance in identifying a deceased toddler who was located this afternoon (April 21, 2017) near 155 Avenue and Castle Downs Road in Edmonton.

The Edmonton Police Service is looking to the public for assistance in identifying a deceased toddler who was located this afternoon (April 21, 2017) near 155 Avenue and Castle Downs Road in Edmonton.

The Edmonton Police Service is looking to the public for assistance in identifying a deceased toddler who was located this afternoon (April 21, 2017) near 155 Avenue and Castle Downs Road in Edmonton.

Homicide Staff Sgt. Duane Hunter talks to the media about the death of a toddler discovered this afternoon, and seek the public's assistance in identifying the toddlers clothes laid out on the table at police headquarters in Edmonton, April 21, 2017. (Ed Kaiser/Postmedia)

Homicide Staff Sgt. Duane Hunter talks to the media about the death of a toddler discovered this afternoon, and seek the public's assistance in identifying the toddlers clothes, a snow suit here being held up at police headquarters in Edmonton, April 21, 2017. (Ed Kaiser/Postmedia)

Homicide Staff Sgt. Duane Hunter talks to the media about the death of a toddler discovered this afternoon, and seek the public's assistance in identifying the toddlers clothes laid out on the table at police headquarters in Edmonton, April 21, 2017. (Ed Kaiser/Postmedia)

Edmonton Police Service investigators are asking for the public’s assistance in identifying two people of interest in connection with the death of a toddler. Police also believe the little boy was left in the area of 155 Avenue and Castledowns Road on Tuesday, April 18, 2017 between 10:51-11:51 a.m. Supplied / Edmonton Police Service

A memorial for a deceased toddler continues to grow outside of Good Shepherd Anglican Church on a snowy, quiet Sunday in Edmonton, AB on April 23, 2017. IAN KUCERAK/Postmedia

A woman and man are facing charges after the body of a toddler was found behind a north Edmonton church Friday, the boy abandoned there since Tuesday, say police.

Police had been trying to identify the boy, believed to be about 20 months, since a passerby discovered his body around 2:30 p.m. Friday near Good Shepherd Anglican Church on Castle Downs Road. Investigators said in a statement Saturday that they believe he was left there Tuesday between 10:51 a.m. and 11:51 a.m.

Police on Saturday afternoon released surveillance photos from a nearby Beaumaris Sobeys store taken on Monday, April 17, showing a man and a woman with distinctive ball caps pushing a stroller.

The man and the woman were arrested in northwest Edmonton Saturday evening without incident and are currently in police custody.

Charges are pending against both people and investigators are trying to determine their relationship to the little boy, said a 9:32 p.m. Saturday police news release.

Police on Friday night took the rare step of publicizing the clothes the toddler was wearing. They held up a baby blue U.S. Polo Assn snow suit, a Batman onesie and black and grey sneakers with blue stripes and yellow shoe laces at a news conference.

Three yellow tulips placed at an entrance to the church on Saturday morning started a tribute to the toddler, which grew during the day to include more flowers and a teddy bear.

While police estimate the boy’s age at about 20 months, they said he could be older.

An autopsy is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. on Monday.

Flowers were placed on April 22, 2017, at Good Shepherd Anglican Church near where the body of a toddler was discovered on Friday in Edmonton.

“Ultimately, identifying the toddler will help us figure out the circumstances as to what lead to his unfortunate death,” Staff Sgt. Duane Hunter said late Friday at police headquarters.

“Someone out there is missing this little boy. We need assistance not only to identify him, but to identify his family and the people around him to help us put together the events that led to this.”

The church is in a busy area. Besides the nearby transit terminal, there’s a fire station right beside it. Police Saturday night thanked Edmonton Transit Service for its help with the investigation. A public library, strip mall and a recreation centre are also near the scene. Condominiums and a seniors lodge are nearby.

A church representative from Good Shepherd Anglican Church directed questions about the tragic discovery back to police on Saturday. But the toddler’s death was front of mind for many.

“My heart just really aches to think of this thing happening,” said Marryman Porter, who attended Saturday’s bake sale in the church.

One woman, after laying flowers next to the teddy bear on Saturday, hugged another women she’d arrived with.

Tears were visible in her eyes. They didn’t stay long and the pair climbed back into an SUV that, like many vehicles in the city this weekend, was flying Edmonton Oilers flags.

Homicide detectives are continuing to investigate the child’s death.

If the death is confirmed as a homicide, it would be Edmonton’s 15th of the year.

–With files from CP, Juris Graney

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